$4.5 BILLION + THREE YEARS = WHAT?

Here's the $64,000 question: If the federal government throws $4.5 billionat struggling schools for three years and then stops the flow of cash, does it make a difference? A long-term difference? Do test scores rise? Do teachers stay? Do kids show up to school more?

Those who argue for more funding for schoolssay the federal philosophyis perhapsmore like giving a starving man a feast and then kicking him out the door, saying, "Now you know how to eat! Off you go!"

With the money running out this fall, all eyes will be on the 1,300 schools nationwide that got School Improvement Grants. In San Francisco, nine schools that were ranked among the worst in the state and country got nearly $5 million each over the last three years to turn the proverbial ship around.

Where did themoney go exactly andhas it made a difference so far? Read more here.

Posted By: Jill Tucker ( Email ) | Mar 18 at 4:00 am

CITY EMPLOYEES WHO GOT WATER BILL BREAK PAY UP

San Francisco city employees who dipped into a discount on their water and sewer bills that was designed for low-income families are finally paying up. Those that haven't, officials said, might need some prodding - like having their utilities shut off.

As The Chronicle first reported in the fall, the Public Utilities Commission launched an audit after noticing some city workers using the discount program. It provides disadvantaged families about $25 off on their monthly water and sewer bills, so long as their household pulls in less than $46,100 a year.

As it turned out, 473 city workers were listed as living in addresses enrolled in the program. The average city worker makes over $93,000.

Upon further investigation, the utilities commission determined that 80 of the city workers were indeed eligible for the discount, while 64 made too much money. In the other 329 cases, officials said, someone at the address was improperly collecting the discount - though it wasn't the city employee.

So far, the Public Utilities Commission has recouped about $210,000 out of a possible $244,000 from ineligible recipients, said agency spokesman Tyrone Jue. He said the department has also implemented a system to check the program's rolls every two years.

"We said last year that we would get the money back that was owed to our ratepayers and we've collected 86 percent already," Jue said. "We'll keep on going until we get all the money."

Jue said those who have not paid could see their water service stopped or be slapped with a property lien. The Department of Human Resources, meanwhile, is investigating the 64 employees who appear to have broken the rules, with spokeswoman Susan Gard saying punishments could range from a reprimand to termination.

FEEDBACK SOUGHT ON TRASH SERVICE HIKES

The garbage company wants to up its prices, and city officials want to hear what residents think about that.

Recology, San Francisco's refuse collection company, has requested a rate increase for residential service that averages out to 21.5 percent. If approved, it would take effect in late summer, according to the Department of Public Works. The request is slightly lower than an initial proposal Recology submitted to the public works department in December.

The department is responsible for making a recommendation to the city's Rate Board, which decides whether to hike prices.

Under the proposal, the average single-family household with a trio of 32-gallon black, blue and green bins - one each for trash, recyclables and compost - would pay $34.51 a month, a $6.60 increase, the public works department said.

A new rate structure for apartment buildings would hike rates but offer discounts for recycling and composting. Apartment rate increases would be capped at 25 percent in 2014 and 50 percent in 2015, the department said.

The city is asking residents for feedback. An informational workshop on the rate proposal will be held March 21 from 4 to 7 p.m. at San Francisco City Hall, 1 Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 421. More information can be found here.

BIKE SHARING, AT LONG LAST, TO ROLL INTO THE BAY

It's not just a European thing any longer. People share bikes in big cities like Boston, Washington and Denver and even littler places such as Chattanooga, Tenn. And, in August, bike sharing will arrive in San Francisco, three Peninsula cities, and San Jose.

The $7 million test program administered by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District will start with 700 bikes at 70 stations. Half of those will be in downtown San Francisco in an area stretching from the Embarcadero through South of Market to Civic Center. The other half will be scattered among the other four cities and placed mostly within a mile or two of Caltrain stations.

CAMPOS PROPOSES PLANNED PARENTHOOD BUFFER ZONE

The days of anti-abortion protesters confronting visitors in front of Planned Parenthood in San Francisco may be numbered.

Supervisor David Campos is proposing a new ordinance that would create a 25-foot buffer zone around facilities offering reproductive services. A current law recognizes an eight-foot "bubble" around individuals within 100 feet of the facility, but protesters can get around that by standing in one spot.

To learn what led to Campos' move and to hear a reaction from an anti-abortion activist, read more here.